Originally Posted by
Jalinth
Also, any airports that are slot restricted (LHR, JFK, etc...),you can't simply add in another plane. Higher capacity is the only way to go.
This.
The A380 is a bet that in 2025, most of the major airports of the world will be maxxed out capacity-wise and airlines will want to use as many of their precious slots as possible on max-capacity aircraft.
If air travel rises 40-50% from today's levels, especially throughout Asia, that's a pretty good bet that all of those megahubs will be covered with A380's.
Boeing made the opposite bet that airlines will place a higher premium on secondary airports - the "long thin routes" of the 200-250 seat 787. My guess (and hope) is that both products find markets where they are successful long-term.